Libbie Doherty.
The ABC has confirmed Libbie Doherty as head of children’s production after she served as acting head of children’s content for the past year.
She stepped up following the promotion of Michael Carrington to acting director of entertainment and specialist.
In the new position she will commission more than 350 hours of content annually across the ABC’s two children’s TV channels, which reach up to 94 per cent of Australians aged under 15.
She will oversee in-house development and production across ABC KIDS, ABC ME, ABC KIDS listen and on children’s digital products and third-party platforms and take the lead on commissioning external producers.
That’s the first major appointment since David Anderson was confirmed as the MD, suggesting there will be a high degree of continuity at the broadcaster.
Since joining ABC children’s as commissioning editor in 2015, she has been influential in the creation of distinctive and award-winning Australian programs including Mustangs FC, My Year 7 Life, Grace Beside Me, Nowhere Boys 3, Hardball and Aquarius Films’ upcoming sci-fi series The Unlisted.
Carrington said: “Libbie has been an invaluable member of ABC children’s, bringing huge levels of innovation to the team and leading many successful diversity projects such as International Day of the Girl and the DisRupted initiative.
“She is a champion of Australian children’s content and has been instrumental in creating the ABC’s world-class portfolio of programs that reflect and celebrate children’s lives and experiences. I know our team and industry partners will join me in congratulating Libbie on her appointment.”
Libbie said: “I feel so proud of the work we do in ABC Children’s, every day, which makes an enormous contribution to the lives of young Australians. We are in a golden age of children’s entertainment, exemplified by outstanding ABC programs such as Bluey and First Day. I am committed to continuing to deliver content that challenges expectations, ignites curiosity and reflects children’s lives.”
Before the ABC she worked as a producer and director in the independent sector for companies including Cheeky Little Media, Sticky Pictures, Blink Films and Hackett Films. She was also a production executive at Screen NSW and she spent 10 years in London at the BBC, Razorfish, Sky Television and NBC Europe in various producing roles.
Since then she has worked on partnerships with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, NITV, Screen Australia, state and territory screen agencies and international co-production partners.